Woman who worked in Salt Lake County jail’s kitchen arrested for alleged sex with inmates

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SALT LAKE CITY -- A woman who formerly worked as a kitchen employee at the Salt Lake County Metro Jail has been arrested, and she faces multiple charges for allegedly having sex with at least two male inmates.

According to a press release from the Salt Lake County Sheriff’s Office, Heather K. Biggs is a former Trinity Services employee who was contracted to work in the jail’s kitchen and now faces four counts of custodial sexual relations, which is a third-degree felony.

In a press conference Friday, Salt Lake County Sheriff Jim Winder said at least two male inmates were involved and there may have been others as well. Winder said among those who work in the kitchen, there is a ratio of about seven inmates for each paid employee.

Winder said the woman’s job was to help the inmates prepare food, and “…there are locations in the kitchen that provide some cover.”

Biggs and others who work at the jail have what is called “trustee” status and must undergo background checks, and he said employees who work at the jail are counseled to avoid forming relationships, friendly or otherwise, with inmates to prevent situations such as this from occurring.

Winder said, “These are very complicated crimes,” and said there are indications Biggs may have been manipulated by the inmates, who may have been pursuing intimacy with her in the hope she would help them smuggle contraband into the jail.

All of the parties involved are being cooperative with the investigation, Winder said, and there are no other kitchen staff facing charges in connection with the investigation.